Monday, 28 December 2009

Here I am chillin' for Christmas at Ma and Pa's house, where snow isexpected tonight!

I bought this wee giftie for my brother and I am taking great delightin reading it. If you know your sci-fi, you'll recall Ace Truckingfrom the comic 2000AD, and many a caper in the space hauler SpeedoGhost!

Friday, 25 December 2009

My brother and I must be the most uncoordinated and gangly people in England so we ventured on to Ma and Pa's drive (icy as you like) so I could get into the recyling bin (he's called Hikaru) . I was trying to make space after happy wrapping paper filled it up this lunchtime!

Thursday, 24 December 2009

I used stewing beef, celery, onions, carrotts, a green pepper, sweetcorn and a little smoked bacon. Oh, and garlic, coriander and cumin! I added liberal amounts of red wine and a stock made from a pheasant carcas.

It smells good and we will taste it later with some mash.

BS9: rest assured I have taken enough out to freeze some for you for next week x .

Wednesday, 23 December 2009

I had a very snowy drive to my folks' place for Christmas today and the last two miles saw some extremely careful driving in VX52 with heavy flurries coming down.

Having planned my packing 48 hours in advance I remembered almost everything, leaving only one thing at BS5, a lamb shank! That's a bit of a pisser because it was really tasty and as well as finishing it off, I wanted to make stock from it for a stew next week. Never mind.

On getting here I unpacked and cracked on with some festive ironing! I did this with some Carols on via my iPhone to wireless speakers. It really is cutting edge here.

My brother just sent this image via his Iphone (Your Iphone to my Iphone, my mind to your mind) ...

If memory serves, I think this is a road near his house at Prestwood, and just through the gate at the left is one of the regualr walks he does with the chaps, and indeed where he met Quaddie before he adopted him!

This is Dog 1 of 2, or Toby as goes his official designation.

Come rain or shine or snow this is a dog with a mania for the biggest stick he can find.

This weekend and prior to some tv work, Nigella came to BS5 because she heard I had some cookery on the go and she needed some tips!

I have made a great chicken stock with a carcas , some onions and a carrot; that has now become the basis for leek and potato soup. I knocked up a pie filling with the chicken meat and some other things I had in the house. These will all freeze shortly for Christmas at Ma and Pa's where I have elected to make dinner a few times. I have also made sausage rolls as this Nigella movie makes clear!

Roast lamb today with my delightful BS9 prior to an evening carol service, at which I am reading a lesson.

Tuesday, 15 December 2009

Well now, here's Santa on an early run in BS5, and specifically , visiting The Rhubarb Tavern last Sunday .

He does an early visit each year but then each year my mate Trevor disappears at about the same time and always misses it. It's a bit like Clarke Kent never being around to catch Superman; some journalist he must be.

Sunday, 13 December 2009

Advent is here and half way through, and from now on Church ( or what my brother delights in calling my imaginary friends) dons its glad rags and candles. It's pretty atmospheric and smart. This is St Luke's here in BS5, my branch!

Thursday, 10 December 2009

Here I am at Bristol Temple Meads for the 0730 Edinburgh train. I take the service as far as Derby and then hop on a small train through the Dales to my store. It's my Christmas visit so I am taking a Christmas pressie for the store manager because she has done a great job this year.

No exciting through trains at BTM today, not even a slow, rumbling goods train!

Further mobile blogging should I see anything fundamentally 'Blog BS5' during the day.

Tuesday, 8 December 2009

This weekend I spent some time at my Mum and Dad's house and BS9 came with me, which was rather nice.

Over the Sunday breakfast boiled egg, it was my turn to read out the crossword clues and I did just that for most of the puzzle.

At one point there was a tricky clue about a camel and somehow, we happened upon a strange word in our searching that started with a Dz. I was a bit confused and had to ask three times what this meant (let alone what it had to do with Crossword appearing ungulates) .

Anyhow, Mother and BS9 became impatatient at my stupidity at the same time and shouted out in perfect unison at the top of their lungs...

"SLUT!!!"

Nice experience....I am traumatised to the point of having forgotten the word, its meaning or its relation to camels.